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1 Timothy 3:7

Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Moreover he must have good testimony from those who are outside, to avoid falling into reproach and the snare of the devil.

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    He must also be well reported of amonge them which are with out forth lest he fall into rebuke and snare of the evyll speaker.

  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    He must also be well reported of, euen of them which are without, lest he fall into rebuke, and the snare of the deuill.

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Cross-references (20)

Passages linked to 1 Timothy 3:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
  • Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
  • 2 Timothy 2:26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
  • Acts 6:3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no occasion for stumbling, whether to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;
  • 2 Corinthians 6:3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
  • 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
  • Titus 2:8 and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
  • Titus 2:5 to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
  • 1 Samuel 2:24 No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey.
  • Mark 4:11 He said to them, “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
  • Acts 10:22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
  • Acts 22:12 One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,
  • 1 Corinthians 5:12 For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within?
  • 1 Timothy 5:14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
  • 1 Timothy 5:24-25 Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgment, and some also follow later. In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
  • 1 Peter 4:14-16 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters. But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
  • 3 John 1:12 Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (16 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 7 A good report from those who are without.…

7 A good report from those who are without. This appears to be very difficult, that a religious man should have, as witnesses of his integrity, infidels themselves, who are furiously mad to tell lies against us. But the apostle means, that, so far as relates to external behavior, even unbelievers themselves shall be constrained to acknowledge him to be a good man; for, although they groundlessly slander all the children of God, yet they cannot pronounce him to be a wicked man, who leads a good and inoffensive life amongst them. Such is that acknowledgment of uprightness which Paul here describes. The reason is added, —

Lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil; which I explain in this manner: “lest, being subject to reproach, he begin to be hardened, and abandon himself the more freely to all iniquity, which is to entangle himself in the snares of the devil.” For what hope is left for him who sins without any shame?

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 7 Moreover he must have a good report of…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Moreover he must have a good report of them…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Note here, How needful it is for a minister…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Moreover, he must have a good report of them…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain He ought also to have a good report -…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. The sixteenth requisite is, that he should…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Ti 3:7. Moreover, he must have a good report…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Moreover he must have a good report of them…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain a good report--Greek, "testimony." So Paul was influenced by…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 7. Good report… without—His public reputation, not only within…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. them which are without] Outside the circle of…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) Moreover he must have a good report of…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Good testimony from for a good report of, A.V;…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 7. Moreover, he must have a good report of…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 3:7 Paul expected Christians to live in a way…

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